types of steam trap valves
There are dozens upon dozens of types of steam traps, but they all accomplish one basic task: when there is too much water in the steam system, they drain it out. Otherwise, they stay closed and let steam flow through the system as normal. The way they accomplish this is usually fairly simple. The diagram to the right shows a simple steam trap. When the trap fills with water, the float rises and opens the valve. The water then drains out, the float falls, and the valve closes again.
Another type of steam trap, shown to the left , uses temperature to open and close the valve and regulate the amount of water in the system. Steam is very hot, so when the trap is full of steam the fluid inside the valve expands and closes the valve. As the steam looses its heat to the building, the condensed water follows gravity to the bottom of the trap. The condensed water is colder, so the fluid inside the valve cools and opens the drain. The water flows out, is replaced by steam, and so the valve closes again.
Pretty neat systems, right? Right. But lots can go wrong.Valves can get stuck, fluids can leak, impurities in the steam can eat through the delicate parts of the steam traps, and a thousand and one other things can lead to the death of a steam trap. When steam traps die, one of two things happen: they seal shut, or they lock themselves open. If they seal shut the steam system will stop providing heat to an area of the building and the maintenance team will notice and fix the broken trap.
If, however, the steam trap seals open, there is no obvious way to notice. Steam will still flow through the system and heat the building. It will just also flow through the condensate return system and be wasted.
More products of valves
